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Steve Arstad
I have been looking for news in the South Okanagan - SImilkameen for 20 years, having turned a part time lifelong interest into a full time profession. After five years publishing a local newsletter, several years working as a correspondent / stringer for several local newspapers and seven years as editor of a Similkameen weekly newspaper, I joined iNFOnews.ca in 2014. My goal in the news industry has always been to deliver accurate and interesting articles about local people and places. My interest in the profession is life long - from my earliest memories of grade school, I have enjoyed writing.
As an airborne geophysical surveyor I travelled extensively around the globe, conducting helicopter borne mineral surveys.
I also spent several years at an Okanagan Falls based lumber mill, producing glued-wood laminated products.
As a member of the Kaleden community, I have been involved in the Kaleden Volunteer Fire Department for 22 years, and also serve as a trustee on the Kaleden Irrigation District board.
I am currently married to my wife Judy, of 26 years. We are empty-nesters who enjoy living in Kaleden with our Welsh Terrier, Angus, and cat, Tibbs.
Our two daughters, Meagan and Hayley, reside in Richmond and Victoria, respectively.
Steve Arstad's Stories
Penticton woman gets reprieve after lapse in good behaviour
PENTICTON - A Penticton woman who straightened out her life five years ago only to slip up was given a second chance in Penticton court this week. Angela Robyn Keith received a suspended sentence for two counts of theft under $5,000. She faces strict probation terms but was granted a reprieve by Judge Gale Sinclair,...
Charges laid in collisions that killed five bighorn sheep in South Okanagan
PENTICTON - Two drivers are facing multiple charges after killing five bighorn sheep in two separate collisions on Highway 3 west of Keremeos in October. The collisions occurred on Oct. 1, 2015, around 4 p.m. when an eastbound Ford F250 pickup driven by a 56-year-old man and a Dodge Ram pickup driven by a 75-year-old...
Surveillance cameras coming to Penticton library and museum complex
PENTICTON - The City of Penticton is in the market for video surveillance equipment. The city released a request for proposal in late November, seeking suppliers to provide, install and maintain video surveillance remote devices in city facilities. City Communications Officer Simone Blais says video surveillance is part of the municipality’s general risk management initiatives...
Breach of conditions puts Maple Ridge man behind Penticton bars
PENTICTON - A man accused of multiple weapons charges will remain in custody a few more days following an appearance in Penticton court earlier this week. Donavin Francios Costa appeared before Judge Gale Sinclair Monday, Dec. 14, on a charge of breaching bail conditions. Crown Prosecutor John Swanson called Costa's case a 'reverse onus situation.'...
Penticton smoke break leaves man in stitches
PENTICTON - A step outside the door of a Penticton motel room for a quick smoke was nothing but trouble for a man Saturday night. Police were called to the Jubilee Motel Saturday night, Dec. 12, after a man reported being assaulted by a woman at the motel, Penticton RCMP media spokesperson Don Wrigglesworth says....
Vicious assault on Penticton delivery man
PENTICTON - A Penticton delivery man making a late night call to a Westminster Avenue residence was seriously assaulted yesterday. Police were called to Penticton Regional Hospital around 1 a.m. this morning, Dec. 15, after receiving a call of a 35-year-old man suffering serious lacerations to his hands and face from an assault. While making...
Long list of charges resolved in Penticton with more than one year jail
PENTICTON - A Penticton man will serve more than a year in jail for a long list of charges involving numerous incidents taking place in two provinces, over several years. The law caught up with Scott Bradley Mathieson in Penticton Courthouse yesterday, Dec.14, as Judge Gale Sinclair sentenced Mathieson to a total of 380 days...
RCMP catch up with driver who failed to stop for a South Okanagan roadside check
PENTICTON - An Okanagan Falls resident won’t be driving for several months following an incident on Highway 97 south of Penticton on Friday. A man driving a SUV along Highway 97 at about 11:20 p.m., Friday, Dec.11, failed to stop for a Christmas Counterattack road check at Gillespie Flats, three kilometres south of the intersection...
Big donation to Penticton hospital tower from well-known Penticton couple
PENTICTON – Rick Thorpe and Yasmin John-Thorpe have made a major contribution to the South…
Still time to save Penticton theatre project, but not much
PENTICTON - The clock is ticking and time is running out for the quest to raise enough money to save the Penmar Community Theatre project. Penmar Community Arts Society president Kerri Milton says the Kickstarter campaign which started last month is gaining steam, but admits they are running out of time. The group is restoring the old Penmar...
Forestbrook Drive zoning amendment going to public hearing
PENTICTON - A zoning amendment to allow low density multiple housing on Forestbrook Drive in Penticton will go to public hearing on January 11. City council voted for an amended zoning bylaw at 511 Forestbrook Dr. to allow for the construction of two duplexes along with a secondary suite for each principal unit for a...
RDOS budget fails to include money for conservation fund
PENTICTON - A conservation fund appears to be a diminishing priority for the Okanagan Similkameen Regional District as the 2016 budget takes shape. After spending $20,000 last year to explore public support for a Regional Conservation Fund, a $40,000 request for referendum funding failed to garner board support, as did a follow up $20,000 request...
Thirty days for possession of stolen truck
PENTICTON - A Penticton man will spend another 13 days in jail after pleading guilty to being in possession of a stolen pickup truck earlier this year. A Penticton Provincial Court judge heard today, Dec.11, a Chev Silverado pickup truck, left running with the keys in it, was stolen from a Forestbrook Drive residence on...
Little enthusiasm from Penticton council to hand off grant process
PENTICTON - Penticton city council isn't enthusiastic about the idea of handing off the city’s municipal grants program to an outside enterprise. Chief financial officer Colin Fisher has asked council to enter into an agreement with the Community Foundation of the South Okanagan Similkameen in order to establish a City of Penticton Community Grants Fund....
South Okanagan national park focus group suddenly terminated
PENTICTON - A local MLA is disbanding a national park focus group just weeks after it was formed. Boundary-Similkmeen MLA Linda Larson says in a media release, "while there is a need to protect the natural landscape of the South Okanagan, the question of how that is done has been a divisive one.” Larson says...
Language funding to boost employability of South Okanagan immigrants
PENTICTON - Newcomers to the South Okanagan who are seeking work in health services will be provided some assistance in getting a grasp on the English language through a B.C. government initiative. The Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training is providing $45,231 towards a medical English training program for new immigrants, the B.C. government...
Penticton city councillors back wine bar’s application for increased capacity and longer hours
PENTICTON - Complaints over the hours of operation and parking issues failed to dampen Penticton city council’s enthusiasm for the Mile Zero Wine Bar’s application for an increase in capacity and operating hours. Council approved the request and forwarded a recommendation of support to the Liquor Control and Licensing Branch for a doubling of interior...
Penticton Christmas lights tour returns
PENTICTON - The annual Christmas lights tour returns to Penticton next week. The City of Penticton and B.C. Transit will be sponsoring the tours on Wednesday, Dec. 16 this year. Two buses will run from the bus stop at Wade Avenue and Martin Street with the first tour beginning at 6:30 p.m. A second bus...
Collision shuts down northbound lanes of Highway 97 north of Trout Creek
PENTICTON - Northbound traffic on Highway 97 has been disrupted for a period of time this afternoon and evening following a two vehicle collision. A statement issued by Drive B.C. issued at 6:30 p.m. indicated the highway was still closed following the collision, which motorist Tony Madeira says happened just in front of him at...
Changes to Penticton water billing hoped to ease resident frustrations
PENTICTON - Changes are coming to the way Penticton residents pay their water bills. The city currently reads and bills for water consumption on a semi-annual basis while electricity is billed on a monthly schedule. The irregular water charges result in budget issues for residents and greater customer dissatisfaction, City Chief Financial Officer Colin Fisher...
New foundation plans to eliminate homelessness in Penticton
PENTICTON - There’s a new new group in Penticton that aims to make the Peach City the first in B.C. to eliminate homelessness. As they work towards that goal, Mike Forster and four other individuals have recently registered their social works group, Keep the Cold off Penticton, as a foundation. The group has been building momentum since...
Cart program will include yard waste pickup in Penticton
PENTICTON - Penticton's new cart-based garbage collection program will also include pick-up of yard waste when it's implemented in 2016. City staff asked council to approve the proposed cart program design at Monday’s council meeting. Public Works Manager Len Robson told council a partial cart program wouldn’t work because any manual lifting of a garbage...
Penticton council refuses to chicken out on backyard hen pilot project
PENTICTON - A plucky city council approved permits for backyard hens in the city for another six months. The pilot project began in May 2014. Twelve residents applied at the time and were given approval but those permits expired in November. Planning Manager Blake Laven gave council an update on the results of the project...
City of Penticton hopes to secure federal funding
PENTICTON - Green energy and water projects topped Penticton city council’s list of preferred projects for submission to a new round of New Building Canada funding. Penticton city staff and council discussed a number of possible projects for submission to the New Building Canada Fund, which recently opened a second intake of applications. The city...